This morning as I was changing the bunnies food and water I noticed that JB2 wasnt moving at all, he was just sitting there. He was sitting normally but something didnt seem right. Everyone else rushed over to their food and he just sat there facing the opposite direction, and stretched his neck around to see what I was doing. I got down on his level to have a look at what was wrong, and he seems to have some kind of pinch in his nerve or something with his spine which is making him not want to move.
Its not broken directly but it could have a crack, a pulled muscle, or a pinched nerve. Originally I thought he was paralysed from the neck down but as I watched him for awhile he just doesnt WANT to move. He still has control over his full body though. I got our dog carrier all set up for him and put it infront of him and he gradually moved into it.
Once in there, on 10cm thick of straw, he sat in the same position, and laid his head on the top of the straw. He seems very comfortable like that. He is able to make himself comfortable. He is eating and drinking which is good too.
I then called one of our local vet clinics and talked to them about what was going on. They said it sounds like a spinal injury and he should go in straight away. Then they told me they dindt have any appointments available today. So I called our other Vet clinic and they said to keep him warm, give him Metacam or Baby aspirin, and see how he goes overnight tonight.
I still wanted another opinion so lastly I called our local rabbit lady and asked her opinion. She told me the same as the para hills vet. She said to fill a coke bottle with warm water for him to use as a hot water bottle and to keep him warm, give him baby aspirin or metacam for the pain, keep his fluids up, and see how he goes over the next 24 hours.
I then called the Semaphore vet (bad experiences with Stu in the past) and asked the vet there if I could organise somehow to get hold of some metacam as he is the closest to my work, and he couldnt give me metacam but he suggested that it may be best if we euthanise (surprise surprise)
I need some reassurance here. Im having a tug of war. I dont want to take him to the vet immediately because any movement could make it worse. At the same time I feel bad that no one has seen him even though 2 bunny experts ahve said let him rest for at least 24 hours. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Also, if anyone has had any experience with baby aspirin, or knows anything about it could you please let me know!!! Ive been reading about it all morning and how wonderful it is for pain in bunnies but I am concerned about the blood thinning effects. Has anyone used it for rabbits? with success? (Ive never heard of it before)